Special to the Bulverde News

GVTC announced on Dec. 12 the formation of the GVTC Foundation which will focus solely on supporting charitable activities, non-profit organizations and educational pursuits.

“GVTC has always led the way to support community causes,” said Cathy Young, GVTC Foundation board president. “The formation of this foundation allows us to maximize our giving by generating resources to give even more to those who need it most.”

The announcement of the foundation took place at the GVTC auditorium to supporters and beneficiaries of GVTC giving. To commemorate the event, the GVTC Foundation made a special contribution to The Tye Preston Memorial Library near Canyon Lake, which received a $100,000 total donation toward the $3.1 million needed to build a new 18,000-square-foot library. Bette Wehner, president of the Canyon Lake Community Library District, received the check on behalf of the library.

“This donation by the GVTC Foundation is a very important boost toward achieving our goal to build a much needed larger library and will serve as a model for other corporations and citizens to donate toward this very worthy cause.”

Wehner said the new facility will be located on the South Access Road and will serve as a community building that unites all areas of the Lake.

The foundation also presented a $1,500 check to the Gonzales Learning Center to assist with its efforts to help adults receive continuing education and GED certification.

In addition to distributing funds, the foundation will actively generate funds through employee giving campaigns, special events and through community giving such as trusts, wills and property donations. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, all donations to The foundation are tax deductible.

To learn how to qualify for assistance from the GVTC Foundation, or to make a contribution, call (830) 885-9100 or visit www.gvtcfoundation. com.

Teaming up with the Texas Farm Bureau Network, KCTI-AM in Gonzales is airing three daily agricultural programs for the station’s audience.  KCTI can be tuned at 1450 AM on the radio dial.

Texas News and Views airs at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, Focus on Agriculture follows immediately afterwards at 5:35 a.m. and Texas Vet News can be heard at 8:35 a.m. daily. 

The five-minute Texas News & Views program takes an in-depth look at agriculture and rural issues.  The environment, international trade, weather, markets, and legislation in Austin and Washington are among the diversity of topics covered on the show.  Veteran broadcaster Curt Lancaster hosts the program. 

Focus on Agriculture is a three-minute program that covers a wide range of farm and ranch news impacting the industry.

Texas Vet News is also a three-minute show.  The program features the expertise of award-winning veterinarian Dr. Bob Judd who offers advice on the everyday care of livestock, including horses, cattle, dogs and cats.

Longtime broadcaster Don Kyser anchors both Focus on Agriculture and Texas Vet News.  Kyser also hosts the 15-minute weekly Farm Bureau Roundup program that had already been airing on KCTI.  Roundup, which takes a look at agriculture across the state from contributing reporters, airs Saturday mornings at 6 a.m.

All programs are produced at the TFB Network studios in Waco.

“Agriculture is a large and important industry in this southeastern region of Texas.  We are excited about our association with KCTI.  Program and Traffic Manager Dian Bowman and the staff have been very influential in maintaining quality programming for the station’s listeners,” said TFB Network Affiliate Relations Director Tom Nicolette.

“We are extremely pleased to be adding more of our agricultural programming on KCTI-AM.  We value our relationship with the station and its audience in Gonzales and the surrounding area,” said Lancaster, director of radio services for the TFB Network.

For additional information, contact Curt Lancaster at (254) 741-4780, or visit the Texas Farm Bureau Web site at www.tfbradio.com.

Pictured left to right are Ola Armstrong, John Ellis, Josh Pettiette, Bette Wehner, Les Austin, Cathy Young, John Buckelew and Bruce Forey Photo by Martha L. Reyna

Special to the Bulverde News

GVTC, the dominant communications provider in far North San Antonio and the Hill Country, has started an aggressive five-year initiative to expand its consumer product line to 17,000 existing lots.

GVTC phone, cable TV, internet and security monitoring products will be available to these residences, which customers can bundle at competitive pricing and receive all in one bill. The first set of 1,200 properties is scheduled for completion by mid-December. On average, 3,000 lots per year will be upgraded until the project is done.

GVTC will invest $35 million to upgrade its copper phone lines with fiber optics, which will allow the communications company to deliver up to four of its services at once. According to GVTC President and CEO, Ritchie Sorrells, “As a member-centered communications company, this is part of our vision to ensure that all of our customers have the best of what we have to offer.” This mission not only addresses the needs of our long time customer base, but also put us in an ideal situation to meet the demands of our growing customer base throughout far the markets we serve.”

For GVTC, the fiber upgrade will provide long term reliability and quality that copper can not provide. Customers will benefit with superior phone service, digital television with a wide selection of High Definition and Video on Demand channels, premium speed Internet connections and ultra-dependable security monitoring services.

GVTC is targeting more than 100 subdivisions for the upgrade project. Its broad scope required GVTC executives to create a unique grading method to determine which ones would get fiber first.

“This multi-step process is a logical method to prioritize project areas and removes any potential emotion out of the equation so we can provide services to the areas that truly need it most,” said George O’Neal, vice president of engineering.

Customers will be notified through direct marketing and other means once GVTC services are available in their respective areas.

The Bulverde-Spring Branch Area Chamber of Commerce held its seventh annual Taste of the Hills – The White Stetson Gala - on Sept. 29 at the Clyde Johnson Ranch in Bulverde.

Always a great event enjoyed by all, the Taste of the Hills is the chamber’s major fund-raiser for the year.

With Tracy Kormendy (United Title of Texas) at the reins of a full staff of volunteers, the event came together beautifully. It could not have been successful without the sponsors and the businesses who donated auction items, food, wine, beer and other services.

Nearly 100 businesses and individuals donated to the event. Local restaurants served up their specialties, giving event patrons tastes of the local cuisine.

Special thanks go to Mike Johnson for donating the use of the Clyde Johnson Ranch, Mal McClinchie, the master of ceremonies, Sheriff Bob Holder, auctioneer, Bulverde-Spring Branch EMS and the Bulverde Police Department.

The chamber also thanks those who attended the event and invites you back for the eighth annual Taste of the Hills in 2008.

Sponsors were:

WHITE STETSON

SPONSORS - $1,000

Brumley Professional Em-ployer Services; Bulverde Lions Club; GVTC; Indepen-dence Title Co.; Land America Lawyers Title; Stumpf, Crad-dock, Massey; Texas Hills Bank; Keller Williams: Joy Clayton & Marty Chrisman; United Title of Texas; 1863 Florist.

BOOT SPONSORS - $500

Broadway Bank; M&S Engineering Ltd; The Village Crossing Woman’s Health; Kathleen Banse - State Farm; Ken Batchelor Cadillac; Mo-ney Mailer of NE San Antonio; The Great Frame Up.

BELT-BUCKLE

SPONSORS - $250

American Bank of Texas; DLW Software LLC; Emil Friesenhahn & August Penalver; Jane Wood; Sheriff Bob Holder; Sonya Wolda, MBA, CPA; Sam Roberts Photography; Infopro.

LASSO SPONSORS - $100

Deviney CPA, P.C; Spring Branch RV Resort; ANDN New and Used Treasures; Chamber Ambassadors; Larry Finkel - Keller Williams.

All other donors:

1-800-Drycleaners; 1863 Florist; A and E Air Condi-tioners; Alamo Brewing Co.; Alamo Street Victorian Inn; Alamo Title; All About Skin; Anytime Fitness of Central Texas; Back and Body Chiropractic; Blanco Real Ale; Blanco Tavern; Blue Star Brewing; Bolner’s Fiesta Products; and Books are Fun.

Also, Broadway Bank; BTX Press; Buck and Ozzy’s Last Chance; Bulverde Hills Dental; Bulverde Orthodontics; Bulverde Physical Therapy; Bulverde Spring Branch Area Chamber of Commerce; Buzz Heye; Chamber Ambassa-dors; Chesters Hamburgers; and Chicki’s Coffee Shop Inc.

Also Clyde Johnson Ranch; Conchita’s Restaurant; Coun-try Gasthaus Meyer; Crane’s Mill Marina; Dallas Stars; Designer Heaven; Dino’s; Dry Comal Creek; Fair Oaks Ranch Golf & Country Club; Flasher Equipment; Fleischer Inter-national Trading; For the Health of It; Forever Baking; and Glazer’s Distributing.

Also; Global Quality Bever-age; Grape Design; GVTC; Helicopter Experts Inc; Hill Country Rental; Hill Country Rustics; Hogwamp; Holy Spirit School; SAAC of Girl Scouts; Home Depot; Honey Creek Gourmet; Honey Creek Res-taurant; Householder Group; Independence Title Co.; and Karen Bierman Ph.D.;

Also Kathleen Banse - State Farm Insurance; Kathy O’Bryant; Ken Batchelor Cadillac; Lady Jane’s Fine Things; Larry Finkel – Keller Williams; Larry Shallcross; Lisa’s Hair Salon; Los Encinos; Mary Kay – Karen Clevenger; Mekong Restaurant; and Miami Dolphins Ltd.

Also Money Mailer of NE San Antonio; Quizno’s; Raven Home Gifts; Ray Jeffery; Re-public Distributing; Richard’s Watercraft Repair; Rio Raft & Resort; River Crossing Country Club; Rockin R River Rides; Roman Holiday Motor; S.T.A.G.E.; Sam Roberts Photography; Sassy Spur; Sheriff Bob Holder Smokey Mo’s; Sonya Wolda CPA; and Spirit and Wine Cellar.

Also Spring Branch RV Resort; Staging Spaces; Starbucks; State Rep. Nathan Macias; Texas Wine and Spirits; The Great Frame Up; The Vintage Wine & Coffee Bar; Thomas Stone & Materi-als; Tom Hotaling Insurance; Tom’s Quick Lube; Two Chic Chicks; Unbridled Spirit; United Title of Texas; Victor’s Fitness and Health; Waikiki Tan; Why Weight and Wild Rose.